Sketchbook Blog of Artist Robert James

Last Year’s Last

Ink, gouache, 5.5″ x 7.5″

This is my last drawing of 2012, on the first page of the new sketchbook. The writing was a pen/ ink/ paper test to see how they behaved together. Over that is a gouache wash (two words that don’t look like they would rhyme, but do!) done a couple of days later. The Noodler’s “Bulletproof” black ink stayed put, just like it was supposed to. It’s a bit on the grey side though, not super black. Self portrait over that with same pen and ink as the writing beneath.

Nice way to start out a new sketchbook! I’ve been thinking about trying the Noodler’s ink; right now I’m using Pelikan 4001, which is a good, strong, rich black in, and hold up pretty well I go over it with markers.